Chuck Neely's Daytona

70sixpkrt · March 13, 2006, 05:17:03 PM

About 13 yrs. ago I tried buying this Daytona from a body shop that was trying to restore it. The owner of the car said it was not for sale. I called the owner once a year,for 8 yrs., just to ask him if he wanted to sell it and he kept saying NO. About 2 yrs ago I talked to the body shop, which had moved, to find out what ever happened to the car and he said the owner sold the Daytona to some guy that had offered him less money than I did. That really got me mad!!

70sixpkrt · March 13, 2006, 05:17:39 PM

Pic 2:

mustanghater · March 13, 2006, 05:38:45 PM

I"ve heard about that car before. I think the guy got it for $12,000 or something like that. It would be sweet to see go down the drag strip.

70sixpkrt · March 13, 2006, 05:43:24 PM

I offered him $13,500 for it. I had the vin # but I can not find it. As I recall, Chuck Neely used to race it back in the 70s or 80s.

Aero426 · March 13, 2006, 06:46:58 PM

Wes McNay in California bought the car several years ago, restored it, and it has now changed hands again, to where or whom, I don't know.

Blown70 · March 13, 2006, 06:59:01 PM

Well with certain people they just will not sell to. WHY. Who knows.

Example.

I know of a 70 Charger R/T 4spd car. I know the guy who has the #matching engine. I know the other guy that has the car. The guy with the motor does not AT ALL LIKE the guy with the car. He stated he would smash the motor into a thousand parts before he would sell it to the guy with the car. He was going to sell me the motor but with the stipulation it NEVER was sold to the guy with the car. EVER....

So, it is not always about how much $$ you offer, sometime right place right time.... Guy has the right attitude that day.

Tom

70sixpkrt · March 13, 2006, 07:06:53 PM

I never met the owner in person, just talked to him over the phone. He lived about 20 min. from my house. I told him I would run down to his house with cash. I really loved that car when I first saw it about 13 yrs. ago. I took about 3 roles of film.

BigBlockSam · March 13, 2006, 07:55:14 PM

that sucks, sometimes timing is everything

65post · March 13, 2006, 08:34:06 PM

Here it is on the far side.

nascarxx29 · March 13, 2006, 09:11:55 PM

It was in NJ. It use to belong to John Demartz.I do have its vin

THE CHARGER PUNK · March 13, 2006, 11:46:21 PM

sweet paintjob wish u had clearer pics to see all the details-MATT

70sixpkrt · March 15, 2006, 04:18:38 PM

I took about 3 roles of film and I can't find them but I found the vin: XX29L9B410784

69_500 · March 19, 2006, 06:25:00 PM

I remember reading a thread about tha car on Moparts a few years ago. Was it you that was posting about it over there?

70sixpkrt · March 19, 2006, 10:09:14 PM

Yes it was. I was just wondering if anybody knew what happened to it.

WilliesDaytona · June 23, 2006, 09:55:33 AM

Quote from: DougSchellinger on March 13, 2006, 06:46:58 PM
Wes McNay in California bought the car several years ago, restored it, and it has now changed hands again, to where or whom, I don't know.

Restored it, like as in Original ? Damn another Cool car with it's History Buried, Man I hate to see Cool Drag Cars, with History, get restored back to the Original condition, there are plenty original ones and I just don't understand ruining the COOL Ones by making them like all the others.

I would give my left Nut to have that car setting right next to Big Willie in my Garage..

I have to laugh at the RESTORED FREAKS that ask me when I am going to restore my Daytona back to R4 Red and my answer is always the same, NEVER, the car is done and there is NO WAY in hell I would hide its History by making it like every other Tom, Dick and Harrys Daytona..

Blown70 · June 23, 2006, 10:16:36 AM

Quote from: WilliesDaytona on June 23, 2006, 09:55:33 AM
Quote from: DougSchellinger on March 13, 2006, 06:46:58 PM
Wes McNay in California bought the car several years ago, restored it, and it has now changed hands again, to where or whom, I don't know.
Tom, Dick and Harrys Daytona..

WHAT, I am Tom I do not have a Daytona......

WilliesDaytona · June 23, 2006, 10:22:40 AM

THE CHARGER PUNK · June 23, 2006, 12:04:53 PM

Thats cool the way youve kept ur daytona all original in ''as raced'' condition, the only resto i think i might do would to restore it is to maybe restore it to the way it is only all new, then again its damn cool the way it is now-MATT (maybe stripping that black spray paint off the rear quarters and having the words ''BIG WILLY' show again.)

69_500 · June 23, 2006, 03:45:01 PM

Have you thought of just freshining up the paint job on the car and leaving it in the same set up as it is currently? Only with new paint, and such?

WilliesDaytona · June 23, 2006, 07:50:23 PM

I thought about it, but the way I see it is

#1 I dont have to spend any more money to leave it like it is
#2 I don't have to Prove who it belonged to or the History, if someone can't tell it has been like this for 30+ years they are blind
#3 I think it is Just as cool now, if not cooler than it would be if it was slick, every dent, scratch or rust hole has a story
#4 I don't think redoing the car would increase the value, I am going to fix around the back window and a few Drivetrain things But that is All..

Ghoste · June 23, 2006, 08:56:45 PM

I think the value of vintage race cars took a while to catch up to restored cars and that was part of it. You're seeing more origianl race cars being displayed all the time as people begin to appreciate that the racing of these cars is just as past as the street scene.

nascarxx29 · June 23, 2006, 10:36:07 PM

I would think the #88 rolling research daytona of Greg Ks.Has to be one of the rarest racing daytonas in existance .

Ghoste · June 24, 2006, 08:26:32 AM

I think any race car is equally rare since they are each basically a one of one. Their pedigree certainly alters the value though, and that #88 car definitely has a very very special history. I'd place it as one, if not the, most valuable wing cars IMO.

THE CHARGER PUNK · June 24, 2006, 10:10:19 PM

so who spray bombed over the ''BIG WILLY"" moniker?-MATT

WilliesDaytona · June 25, 2006, 03:26:30 AM

Quote from: B5 BLUE CHARGER PUNK on June 24, 2006, 10:10:19 PM
so who spary bomber over the ''BIG WILLY"" moniker?-MATT

BIG WILLIE

69_500 · June 25, 2006, 07:23:17 AM

Don't get me wrong I love the fact that you display it just the way it is. It definately does show its heritage, without any explaniation like you said.

I just wish more people would do that. I've seen cars in the past few years get restorations that didn't need them. Some that had origional paint, but a few scratches, and such get stripped down and redone to make them look better. To me it makes them look worse. I like seeing origional cars.

tan top · June 25, 2006, 09:58:13 AM

every thing has its place . , from 100 point stock resto trailered cars to un restored survivors. they are all awesome ,but old race cars and real good unrestored cars should have the minimum amount of work done to them to preserve them cosmetically . but it goes with out saying replace / rebuild any part that is required for safety or use ability. cars like that are like a time machine of years gone bye . just my

Brock Samson · June 25, 2006, 09:17:09 PM

Funny it's got the original deepdish hubcaps on it..

FJ5WING · April 03, 2011, 08:46:58 AM

Quote from: 69_500 on June 25, 2006, 07:23:17 AM
Don't get me wrong I love the fact that you display it just the way it is. It definately does show its heritage, without any explaniation like you said.

I just wish more people would do that. I've seen cars in the past few years get restorations that didn't need them. Some that had origional paint, but a few scratches, and such get stripped down and redone to make them look better. To me it makes them look worse. I like seeing origional cars.

My Superbird would have easily qualified as a survivor but I grew tired of the 1980s undercoating that was trapping moisture and flaking off in my face everytime I crawled under the car and the rusty engine compartment bothered me very much. If you want the cars to stay unrestored you better start buying them all up.

nascarxx29 · April 03, 2011, 01:50:07 PM

John Demartz here in NJ owned that car .I thought it would be left as it was.But it got sold

UFO · October 28, 2012, 01:10:42 PM

Yea I know old thread but I found another pic to add.

Aero426 · October 29, 2012, 11:16:50 AM

Great photo.

nascarxx29 · October 29, 2012, 11:55:25 AM

Saw a message board about that car but no pics

At 9:00pm on October 4, 2010, Boyd Steele said...
Frankie glad you mailed me back. Do you remember seeing a orange Dodge Daytona run at Blaney? I worked on that car for a few years.
.At 1:25pm on October 3, 2010, Boyd Steele said...
Would like to know if you ever went to Batesburg dragstrip or Pelion used to race at them and Blaney with Chuck Neeley's Ma's Monster Dodge Daytona. Hung around with Roy Alford Gil Roof and all the rest of the nuts

Mike DC · November 01, 2012, 02:41:21 AM

People always think it's better to restore cars, right up until most of the cars have gotten restored and originality becomes rare. Then people decide originality was cooler after all.

65post · November 01, 2012, 12:06:44 PM

Quote from: Mike DC (formerly miked) on November 01, 2012, 02:41:21 AM

People always think it's better to restore cars, right up until most of the cars have gotten restored and originality becomes rare. Then people decide originality was cooler after all.

Ghoste · November 01, 2012, 12:11:06 PM

Whats sadder (to me) are some of the well heeled buyers out there who seek out original survivor type cars because they can afford it and they know its cooler but then they begin to "update" and "fix" all the little things that are showing wear and bothering them. I don't mean brake shoes or rad hoses, I mean repainting dull paint or recovering worn seats, not torn, worn.

tan top · November 01, 2012, 06:29:48 PM

good picture , thanks for sharing

wonder where that daytona is now

TiMopar · November 02, 2012, 06:14:56 AM

UFO, that is a great picture, thanks for posting!

Redbird · November 07, 2012, 07:34:04 PM

I had occasion to take out my copy of "The Sox & Martin Book of Drag Racing" today. I took my magnifying glass and looked at the winged car in the shop that is behind the "67-'69 Barracuda just to the side of the Sox & Martin Superbird. From what I can see, the winged car looks an awful lot like the picture UFO posted above, except it is the passenger side. The partial shot has the Hooker Header decal above another decal above a Champion decal, all on the front fender exactly as UFO's picture has. It also looks to have a paint scheme on the lower door scallop as UFO's picture is, and SSEA in white shoe polish on the side window.

If the 5 & 50 Superbird had the steel plate under the package tray, lead in the wing and tail lights, dipped front sheet metal (plus the wheelbase moved around and big engine), I would wager the Sox & Martin car had at least the steel plate, lead weight, and probably the dipped front sheet metal ( and probably more lead shot in a compartment above the gas tank). I wonder how much they clued Neely in on how to add weight to the right places, and if anything was learned when the car was restored?

Redbird · March 14, 2013, 01:11:31 AM

Was Chuck Neely any relation to Bill Neely? Bill Neely is listed on the cover of "The Sox and Martin Book of Drag Racing" as an author with Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin.

Googling Bill Neely shows him writing 19 books about automobiles including "Stand on It", working for Goodyear and Autoweek. He passed in 2008. He seems to be credited with authoring "Drag Racing". He was from WV and lived in NC.

I don't know how common the Neely name is.

Redbird · June 06, 2013, 03:43:42 PM

I was at Mopars in the Park this past weekend. There was a Sox & Martin reunion event among other things. Buddy Martin was there, he seems pretty well with it, and I spoke with him.

Buddy said that S & M only had 1 Superbird. They got it on the dollar type deal and sold it for whatever they could when they were done with it. Buddy said they did not have anything to do with building the 5 & 50 Superbird. I was curious about this because in the late '70's I went to Ken Jennings shop in Aberdeen Maryland. Ken Jennings told me at the time that the Superbird he had (5 & 50 car) was built down south. Ken also told me in the late '70's that he had been told that Chrysler had 2 drag race Superbirds built down south in 1970.

I also spoke with Dave Christie on Saturday. He also said that Sox & Martin did not build the 5 & 50 Superbird, and he had no idea who built it. Dave Christie said the S & M Superbird was very hard on drivetrain parts. Dave named about 6 races that he said their Superbird was at. Dave said the car ran SS/EA with a street hemi and C/MP with a race hemi (12 1/2-1 pistons). Dave said the car did not break in competition but when it got back to the shop you could break the gears off the ring and pinion with a small hammer blow. Buddy said that he had heard the Superbird had been converted to a regular Roadrunner after they sold it and that he had no idea where it was. Buddy also said that Bill Neeley and publicity people wrote the Sox & Martin Book of Drag Racing. Buddy said he did not write it. Dave said Bill and Chuck Neeley were not related.

Buddy said that Chrysler would have paid them if they raced their Superbird at Bonneville (note here there was an interview in 1970 where Buddy or Ronnie, I
'd have to look up who, mentioned bringing the car to Bonneville) but they just didn't have time

Both Dave and Buddy said they did work on Chuck Neeley's Daytona, chasis and engine. Dave said there were 2 buildings at the S & M facility. 1 was for customers engines. Dave and another guy ( didn't get his name) who worked at the S & M shop both said customers engines were assembled there. But that Jake had his own shop in the main building. There was a panel presentation where Jake's engine building was discussed. Buddy said cars did not sit outside at their shop. Both Buddy and Dave said Chuck Neeley's Daytona was a customer car.

There was a whole row of original S & M cars at the show. I felt under the rear quarter panels at the tire openings. (I know don't touch!) The S & M cars seemed to have a distinct and particular way of folding the metal lip over (one of the 1967 cars did not have the quarters rolled under) so the slicks wouldn't be caught by the metal. One of the things I remember about the 5 & 50 Superbird was how the rear quarter opening was rolled over. It seemed to me different than the cars that I saw this weekend.

I mentioned to Dave Christie about what I have read about the 5 & 50 car having the weight moved around. Dave said they didn't do that on the Superbird, the back of the car weighed enough already. Then Dave and the other guy said that, yes they moved the wheelbase 2 " forward in back.

Aero426 · June 06, 2013, 03:48:08 PM

Excellent information!

Budnicks · June 06, 2013, 04:36:52 PM

Quote from: WilliesDaytona on June 23, 2006, 09:55:33 AM
Quote from: DougSchellinger on March 13, 2006, 06:46:58 PM
Wes McNay in California bought the car several years ago, restored it, and it has now changed hands again, to where or whom, I don't know.

Restored it, like as in Original ? Damn another Cool car with it's History Buried, Man I hate to see Cool Drag Cars, with History, get restored back to the Original condition, there are plenty original ones and I just don't understand ruining the COOL Ones by making them like all the others.

I would give my left Nut to have that car setting right next to Big Willie in my Garage..

I have to laugh at the RESTORED FREAKS that ask me when I am going to restore my Daytona back to R4 Red and my answer is always the same, NEVER, the car is done and there is NO WAY in hell I would hide its History by making it like every other Tom, Dick and Harrys Daytona..

That car has some great history, but I think it would be hard to leave it alone, not try to make it present better... I know I would have a real hard time with that... I like it either way...

nascarxx29 · June 06, 2013, 11:09:08 PM

My friend Hemi Fred Ristagnio was Jack Wersts crew chief.He has helped me out on asked about details of the Ken Jennings Jack Werst Superbird.Will ask him if he knows who built it .Also Hemi Fred longtime friend of Diane and Ronnie .He still owns one of his car .And has alot of Sox memorabilia on his site.If anyone might know anything else he would

http://www.prostockhemi.com/

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae240/Wingcars69/martin-1r.jpg

nascarxx29 · June 07, 2013, 01:51:14 PM

We didnt get the many unanswered questions put to rest.But this reply

the Sox car wound up in Louisiana as a bird THE SUPERCHICKEN" then as a Road Runner bracket racer . It has been researched and found to have rusted away.

tan top · June 07, 2013, 03:15:20 PM

intresting stuff

nascarxx29 · June 07, 2013, 04:56:42 PM

1969 sox car on display
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bossmustang/sets/72157609164793335/

nascarxx29 · June 07, 2013, 05:32:09 PM

Duster 1 Concept car at show

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bossmustang/3048563071/
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/featuredvehicles/mopp_1212_1969_dayton_charger/

Budnicks · June 08, 2013, 06:04:22 PM

Nascarxx29 cool links & photos thanks for sharing...

Mommahash · July 23, 2016, 03:18:18 PM

The pic posted Oct 10, 2012 looks like Chuck and his best friend Roy Alford.

Mopar John · June 28, 2018, 01:07:23 PM

Well it took me a while to find this old post about Chuck Neely's race Daytona.
I came across some pictures and wanted to add them here.
Enjoy! MJ

70sixpkrt · June 28, 2018, 01:52:46 PM

I should have bought that car when I had the chance.

moparstuart · June 28, 2018, 03:39:49 PM

Quote from: Mopar John on June 28, 2018, 01:07:23 PM
Well it took me a while to find this old post about Chuck Neely's race Daytona.
I came across some pictures and wanted to add them here.
Enjoy! MJ

love the Keystones and that stance in the last picture is perfect

farm966 · June 28, 2018, 03:55:46 PM

Quote from: moparstuart on June 28, 2018, 03:39:49 PM
Quote from: Mopar John on June 28, 2018, 01:07:23 PM
Well it took me a while to find this old post about Chuck Neely's race Daytona.
I came across some pictures and wanted to add them here.
Enjoy! MJ
love the Keystones and that stance in the last picture is perfect

Maybe he has some air shocks under the back end of that thing....

moparstuart · June 28, 2018, 04:03:30 PM

Quote from: farm966 on June 28, 2018, 03:55:46 PM
Quote from: moparstuart on June 28, 2018, 03:39:49 PM
Quote from: Mopar John on June 28, 2018, 01:07:23 PM
Well it took me a while to find this old post about Chuck Neely's race Daytona.
I came across some pictures and wanted to add them here.
Enjoy! MJ
love the Keystones and that stance in the last picture is perfect

Maybe he has some air shocks under the back end of that thing....

i dont see shackles so i bet your correct , love the 70's street freak look

odcics2 · June 29, 2018, 07:57:22 AM

Ghoste · June 29, 2018, 08:47:43 AM

Sometimes its fun to revisit these ancient threads, nice to see the additional photos.

nascarxx29 · June 30, 2018, 06:14:42 AM

Vintage pic

Aero426 · July 06, 2018, 10:49:51 AM

Neely's car is out there, but has been restored to stock.

wingcar · July 06, 2018, 01:26:39 PM

That's too bad.....just another price of history gone. Personally, and it's just my opinion....I feel that "Day Two" cars have a lot more personality than those that have been restored to "showroom stock" condition. But, don't misunderstand me, there is room for both in our hobby. It's just that in my mind once a car has been restored it loses it's history. I still remember how most of these cars looked back in the day on cruise night....and very few of them were stock. Most had at the very least wide tires and Mags. Again, just my opinion....it's really in the hands of the owner and what they want......

News:

Chuck Neely's Daytona